Happenings

 Nothing is better than getting a box of cheese from Wisconsin!  The kids always love the cheeses that are shaped like something.  This one was a cheddar wax snowman.

 I never tire of the view from the ferry on a clear day.

We visited Gasworks park in Seattle and had fun playing with bubbles.

 

 Gasworks park has a great view of the city.

 Next stop on our weekend city tour was the Seattle Public Library.  This was our first time here and we weren't disappointed!  The library has 10 floors and each floor is filled with every genre you could dream of.  I could spend days here! 

The architecture was amazing!

There were so many books of old newspapers from the 1800's.  It was neat to look at current events from that time.  

She found her book to check out!

 Avery ran the school turkey trot and took 3rd place.

He won a Cornish hen!

Halloween 2017

 Can you spot the leopard?

 Stick man is ready to party

 Fruit "candy corns"- oranges, pineapples, and cool whip

Picture time - Summer 2017

 Alia

3rd Grade, age 8

 Avery

5th Grade, age 11

Friend's Backpacking Trip- Greenlake and Echo Lake

 Scott, Francois and Warren headed out to Goat's Rocks Wilderness to do a several day hike on the PCT.  They ended up hiking 24 miles seeing some pretty amazing sites.  They even hiked to Old Snowy Mountain which is 8,000 feet.  That's Mt Adams in the background.  

 Meanwhile, the Mom's and kids decided to take our own backpacking trip.  We initially planned to hike a shorter hike into Sheep's lake but had to detour because of a forest fire that started the day before.  A quick stop to a forest ranger station and a guide book led us to Greenlake and Echo lakes.  We hiked in 3 miles and set up camp by an amazing river.  On Saturday the husbands hiked in and joined us for the night.  

 We hiked many log bridges.

 Finally at camp!

 Avery did an amazing job taking some extra weight this time because Scott wasn't with us.  We had to split up the camp stuff between our bags.  He even hiked an extra 2 miles with me to find a camp site ahead of the group.  Tilly, Jiji and Warren's dog joined us for the trip. She liked to follow us all around in hopes that we would drop food.  Avery did dump some ramen on his shirt after this photo.  He hung it over a log over night and an animal chewed through it. 

 Alia, Kat, Maarten and Avery made up so many games around camp.  It was fun to see them playing together.  

 We got to celebrate Kat's 8th birthday with a scavenger hunt and cake!

 Jiji hiked in 3 pound cakes, sprinkles and redi whip!  

 The gang- Avery, Maarten, Kat and Alia

 Playing with glow sticks, the perfect light weight backpacking activity.

 Kat's gifts were hidden in our dry bag at the end of her scavenger hunt.

 

 Friends since kindergarten

 Avery was all snuggled in.

 

Heading home

A visit home to Washburn Wisconsin

We missed Wisconsin so much we decided to take 2 trips this summer.😂  This time were were able to fly into Minneapolis and drive to Duluth for the day and then on to Washburn to visit with Grandpa and Grandma Davis and Laura, Tony and Lilly. 

 

 Heading to Long Lake.  We are really starting to fill the boat up as the years go by.  This time was a treat because the kids were able to sit in the front of the boat where the floaties usually go.  

 Avery and Alia were able to go tubing for the first time. 

 A trip to Houghton Point.  Scott was able to see Conor and meet his two boys.

 Avery decided to try and splash me but Grandma got him first.

 Fishing off the dock at West End Park

 They both caught perch

 Lilly really loves listening to stories

 Water baby is learning to swim

 A garden tour

 Cousin love!

Playing fooseball